Abortion in Latin America

The LA Times covers the abortion movement in Latin America (as a follow up to the ongoing conversation on Colombia - by the way, the paper is almost done, and I'll go into it in pretty good detail within a week or two).

Some excerpts:

" In Mexico, for example, antiabortion activists have gone to the Supreme Court to stop a newly enacted law under which the "morning-after" pill would be made available widely in the country's 19,000 government hospitals and clinics. Catholic groups have excoriated President Vicente Fox for liberalizing use of the hormone-based drug, which can be taken after sex to prevent pregnancy.

"In Uruguay, a bill legalizing abortion that had been approved by the lower house was defeated in the Senate by just three votes last year. Backers of the legislation, including trade unions, women's groups, doctors associations and even some Protestant churches, have vowed to keep trying.

"Colombia's high court is expected to rule by the end of the year on a petition to slightly loosen the country's abortion laws. In August, the influential newsmagazine Semana put the issue on its cover, declaring, "It's time to decriminalize."

"In Brazil, a bill authorizing abortion on demand was introduced last month by a government minister after lengthy deliberations by a high-level commission. Supporters acknowledge that the bill's chances of approval are slim but hail its introduction as a step forward in turning the issue into a matter of civic debate rather than the preserve of religious dogma."

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Abortion in Latin America

The LA Times covers the abortion movement in Latin America (as a follow up to the ongoing conversation on Colombia - by the way, the paper is almost done, and I'll go into it in pretty good detail within a week or two).

Some excerpts:

" In Mexico, for example, antiabortion activists have gone to the Supreme Court to stop a newly enacted law under which the "morning-after" pill would be made available widely in the country's 19,000 government hospitals and clinics. Catholic groups have excoriated President Vicente Fox for liberalizing use of the hormone-based drug, which can be taken after sex to prevent pregnancy.

"In Uruguay, a bill legalizing abortion that had been approved by the lower house was defeated in the Senate by just three votes last year. Backers of the legislation, including trade unions, women's groups, doctors associations and even some Protestant churches, have vowed to keep trying.

"Colombia's high court is expected to rule by the end of the year on a petition to slightly loosen the country's abortion laws. In August, the influential newsmagazine Semana put the issue on its cover, declaring, "It's time to decriminalize."

"In Brazil, a bill authorizing abortion on demand was introduced last month by a government minister after lengthy deliberations by a high-level commission. Supporters acknowledge that the bill's chances of approval are slim but hail its introduction as a step forward in turning the issue into a matter of civic debate rather than the preserve of religious dogma."